Remediation of metal polluted mine soil with compost: co-composting versus incorporation

Trace element contamination of post-industrial sites represents a major environmental problem and sustainable management options for remediating them are required. This study compared two strategies for immobilizing trace elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, and As) in mine spoil: (1) co-composting contaminated soil with organic wastes and (2) conventional incorporation of mature compost into contaminated soil. Sequential chemical extraction of the soil was performed to determine temporal changes in trace element fractionation and bioavailability during composting and plant growth. We show that mine spoil can be co-composted successfully and this action causes significant shifts in metal availability. However, co-composting did not lead to significant differences in metal partitioning in soil or in plant metal uptake compared with simply mixing mine spoil with mature compost. Both treatments promoted plant growth and reduced metal accumulation in plants. We conclude that co-composting provides little additional benefit for remediating trace-element-polluted soil compared with incorporation of compost.     

Current approaches to the revegetation and reclamation of metalliferous mine wastes

Abandoned metalliferous mine wastes can result in severe pollution and have aesthetic impacts on the local environment. Use of a vegetation cover gives a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable method of stabilising and reclaiming wastes such as mine-spoils and tailings. Many characteristics of metalliferous wastes are often inimical to successful vegetation establishment, most notably phytotoxic levels of residual heavy metals, low nutrient status and poor physical structure of the substratum. Current approaches to revegetation and reclamation involve both ameliorative and adaptive strategies to allow plant establishment and encourage subsequent vegetation development. Different techniques of revegetation are available for temperate and arid, subtropical regions depending on the characteristics of the waste. These include direct seeding with commercially available plants, use of cover and barrier systems and the enhancement of natural revegetation processes.     

The containment of toxic wastes: II. Metal movement in leachate and drainage at Parc lead-zinc mine, North Wales

Nant Gwydyr, a tributary of the River Conwy in North Wales, has been affected by metal wastes, from a lead and zinc mine, Parc Mine, through contaminated mine drainage waters and episodal erosion of an unstable tailings heap. From 1954 when the mining operation was discontinued to 1978 when a reclamation programme aimed to stabilise the tailings was accomplished, 13 000 tonnes of metalliferous spoil, containing 43 tonne Pb, 104 tonne Zn, and 1 tonne Cd was eroded from the main tailings dam. Dispersal and redeposition during flood events caused extensive pollution of the agricultural land of the flood plain. Analysis of the present water quality of the Nant Gwydyr, 14 years after the stabilisation work, shows that although there has been a marked improvement and no particulate matter is released, the Nant Gwydyr is still a polluted stream. Under normal discharge conditions, it contributes approximately 1 tonne of Zn, 0.2 tonne of Pb and 0.05 tonne of Cd per year to the River Conwy. Most of this originates from water issuing from the mine adit which has been impossible to control. There is still, however, a major contribution by the leachate from the tailings heap, because the stabilisation method used does not prevent this. The control of pollution in mine drainage is discussed.     

Effects of chromium and nickel on germination and growth in tolerant and non-tolerant populations of Echinochloa colona (L.) Link

The tolerance of populations of a grass, Echinochloa colona, growing abundantly on chromite minewaste dumps, was tested in two separate experiments. Seed-based experiments indicate that the populations growing naturally on uncontaminated sites, germinated better in nutrient solutions without metal than those collected from minewaste dumps. Metal tolerance indices were greater in the plant populations derived from metal contaminated sites and better growth of these plants was noted on mine spoil soil-mix in the ratio of 1:1; the percentage of seed germination and the rate of seedling growth, however, declined in a soil compost containing 25% mine spoil and 75% uncontaminated (control) soil. Populations of Echinochloa colona occurring naturally on chromite mine spoils, therefore, appear to have developed metal tolerance. It is maintained by a balanced and stable genetic system built up and adjusted by natural selection. Such material is very suitable to be used in restoration work designed to produce an effective vegetation cover to improve the derelict land and to reduce erosion. This finding might be useful in revegetation programmes on metalliferous minewastes.     

Phytoextraction potential of two Rumex acetosa L. accessions collected from metalliferous and non-metalliferous sites: effect of fertilization

Metal tolerance and phytoextraction potential of two common sorrel (Rumex acetosa L.) accessions, collected from a Pb/Zn contaminated site (CS, Lanestosa) and an uncontaminated site (UCS, Larrauri), were studied in fertilized and non-fertilized pots prepared by combining soil samples from both sites in different proportions (i.e., 0%, 33%, 66% and 100% of Lanestosa contaminated soil). The original metalliferous mine soil contained 20480, 4950 and 14 mg kg(-1) of Zn, Pb and Cd, respectively. The microcosm experiment was carried out for two months under greenhouse controlled conditions. It was found that fertilization increased mean plant biomass of both accessions as well as their tolerance. However, only the CS accession survived all treatments even though its biomass decreased proportionally according to the percentage of contaminated mine soil present in the pots. This metallicolous accession would be useful for the revegetation and phytostabilization of mine soils. Due to its high concentration and bioavailability in the contaminated soil, the highest values of metal phytoextracted corresponded to Zn. The CS accession was capable of efficiently phytoextracting metal from the 100% mine soil, indeed reaching very promising phytoextraction rates in the fertilized pots (6.8 mg plant(-1) month(-1)), similar to the ones obtained with hyperaccumulator plants. It was concluded that fertilization is certainly worth being considered for phytoextraction and revegetation with native plants from metalliferous soils.     

A Cu tolerant population of the earthworm Dendrodrilus rubidus (Savigny, 1862) at Coniston Copper Mines, Cumbria, UK

Dendrodrilus rubidus were sampled from a mine spoil soil at Coniston Copper Mine, an abandoned Cu mine in Cumbria, UK and a Cu-free control site. Earthworms were maintained for 14d in both Kettering loam and a Moorland soil amended with Cu nitrate. Mortality, condition index, weight change and tissue concentration were determined. In both soils D. rubidus native to the mine site were able to tolerate significantly higher soil Cu concentrations (MWRT, p相似文献   

Effects of compost, pig slurry and lime on trace element solubility and toxicity in two soils differently affected by mining activities

The use of organic wastes as amendments in heavy metal-polluted soils is an ecological integrated option for their recycling. The potential use of alperujo (solid olive-mill waste) compost and pig slurry in phytoremediation strategies has been studied, evaluating their short-term effects on soil health. An aerobic incubation experiment was carried out using an acid mine spoil based soil and a low OM soil from the mining area of La Unión (Murcia, Spain). Arsenic and heavy metal solubility in amended and non-amended soils, and microbial parameters were evaluated and related to a phytotoxicity test. The organic amendments provoked an enlargement of the microbial community (compost increased biomass-C from non detected values to 35 μg g⁻¹ in the mine spoil soil, and doubled control values in the low OM soil) and an intensification of its activity (including a twofold increase in nitrification), and significantly enhanced seed germination (increased cress germination by 25% in the mine spoil soil). Organic amendments increased Zn and Pb EDTA-extractable concentrations, and raised As solubility due to the influence of factors such as pH changes, phosphate concentration, and the nature of the organic matter of the amendments. Compost, thanks to the greater persistence of its organic matter in soil, could be recommended for its use in (phyto)stabilisation strategies. However, pig slurry boosted inorganic N content and did not significantly enhance As extractability in soil, so its use could be specifically recommended in As polluted soils.     

Impact of composting strategies on the treatment of soils contaminated with organic pollutants

Chemical pollution of the environment has become a major source of concern. Studies on degradation of organic compounds have shown that some microorganisms are extremely versatile at catabolizing recalcitrant molecules. By harnessing this catabolic potential, it is possible to bioremediate some chemically contaminated environmental systems. Composting matrices and composts are rich sources of xenobiotic-degrading microorganisms including bacteria, actinomycetes and lignolytic fungi, which can degrade pollutants to innocuous compounds such as carbon dioxide and water. These microorganisms can also biotransform pollutants into less toxic substances and/or lock up pollutants within the organic matrix, thereby reducing pollutant bioavailability. The success or failure of a composting/compost remediation strategy depends however on a number of factors, the most important of which are pollutant bioavailability and biodegradability. This review discusses the interactions of pollutants with soils; look critically at the clean up of soils contaminated with a variety of pollutants using various composting strategies and assess the feasibility of using composting technologies to bioremediate contaminated soil.     

重金属元素在冻土与融土中迁移的对比试验

随着寒区经济的发展,冻土地区的矿山开采活动不断加剧,随之产生的重金属污染问题也越来越严重.冻土地区生态环境脆弱,一旦受到破坏就很难恢复.针对此问题,室内模拟了尾矿矿渣在冻土与融土中的填埋及其对填埋场周边土体的影响,通过检测填埋场各处土壤的温度、含水量以及重金属元素的含量,发现温度和水分对重金属元素的迁移影响很大.土壤温度越低,重金属元素的迁移越慢;在温度梯度的作用下,重金属元素均随着水分从土体的暖端向冷端迁徙并聚集于冻结锋面.重金属元素在冻土中的迁移比融土中慢,表明冻土环境不利于重金属元素的迁移.在土壤质地、温度和含水量等相同的情况下,Zn的迁移性较强,Pb和Cu的迁移性相对较弱.     

Using biochar for remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants

Soil contamination with heavy metals and organic pollutants has increasingly become a serious global environmental issue in recent years. Considerable efforts have been made to remediate contaminated soils. Biochar has a large surface area, and high capacity to adsorb heavy metals and organic pollutants. Biochar can potentially be used to reduce the bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals and organic pollutants in soils through adsorption and other physicochemical reactions. Biochar is typically an alkaline material which can increase soil pH and contribute to stabilization of heavy metals. Application of biochar for remediation of contaminated soils may provide a new solution to the soil pollution problem. This paper provides an overview on the impact of biochar on the environmental fate and mobility of heavy metals and organic pollutants in contaminated soils and its implication for remediation of contaminated soils. Further research directions are identified to ensure a safe and sustainable use of biochar as a soil amendment for remediation of contaminated soils.     

Calcium-lead interactions involving earthworms. Part 1: The effect of exogenous calcium on lead accumulation by earthworms under field and laboratory conditions

Earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus and Dendrodrilus rubidus) were collected from several acidic and calcareous abandoned ferrous metalliferous mine sites. Tissue lead concentrations were substantially lower than the total soil lead concentrations, except at one site (Cwmystwyth) where the tissue lead concentrations of both species were approximately 5 to 10 times higher than that of the soil. Soil lead was the major factor in determining the tissue lead concentration, although it was demonstrated that both soil pH and soil calcium concentration could markedly increase the % variance in tissue lead concentration. These findings help explain the apparent anomaly in tissue lead concentrations of earthworms from Cwmystwyth, where the soil is acidic and has exceptionally low calcium concentrations. Soil-liming experiments provided supportive evidence that soil pH, coupled with soil calcium, influences lead accumulation by earthworms, but a filter paper feeding experiment provided unequivocal evidence that soil calcium concentration alone can influence lead accumulation by earthworms. It is concluded that, although lead accumulation by earthworms is influenced by both physico-chemical and biochemical mechanisms, the latter over-rides the former, i.e. soil calcium is more important factor in determining the accumulation of lead earthworms than is soil pH.     

石油污染土壤的植物与微生物修复技术

石油污染土壤的生物修复技术具有成本低、简便高效、对环境影响小等优点,正逐步成为石油污染治理研究的热点领域,具有广阔的发展前景.介绍了我国的石油污染概况及生物修复技术在石油污染治理中的应用,重点对石油污染土壤的微生物修复、植物修复、植物一微生物联合修复技术的研究进展及各自的优点、局限性进行了综述,并提出了石油污染土壤生物修复技术研究的重点领域.     

Ion activity and distribution of heavy metals in acid mine drainage polluted subtropical soils

The oxidative dissolution of mine wastes gives rise to acidic, metal-enriched mine drainage (AMD) and has typically posed an additional risk to the environment. The poly-metallic mine Dabaoshan in South China is an excellent test site to understand the processes affecting the surrounding polluted agricultural fields. Our objectives were firstly to investigate metal ion activity in soil solution, distribution in solid constituents, and spatial distribution in samples, secondly to determine dominant environment factors controlling metal activity in the long-term AMD-polluted subtropical soils. Soil Column Donnan Membrane Technology (SC-DMT) combined with sequential extraction shows that unusually large proportion of the metal ions are present as free ion in the soil solutions. The narrow range of low pH values prevents any pH effects during the binding onto oxides or organic matter. The differences in speciation of the soil solutions may explain the different soil degradation observed between paddy and non-paddy soils.     

Enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in polyaromatic hydrocarbon–contaminated soils: a major challenge for environmental health

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely spread ecological contaminants. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are present with mobile genetic elements (MGE) in the bacteria. There are molecular evidences that PAHs may induce the development of ARGs in contaminated soils. Also, the abundance of ARGs related to tetracycline, sulfonamides, aminoglycosides, ampicillin, and fluoroquinolones is high in PAH-contaminated environments. Genes encoding the efflux pump are located in the MGE and, along with class 1 integrons, have a significant role as a connecting link between PAH contamination and enrichment of ARGs. The horizontal gene transfer mechanisms further make this interaction more dynamic. Therefore, necessary steps to control ARGs into the environment and risk management plan of PAHs should be enforced. In this review, influence of PAH on evolution of ARGs in the contaminated soil, and its spread in the environment, has been described. The co-occurrence of antibiotic resistance and PAH degradation abilities in bacterial isolates has raised the concerns. Also, presence of ARGs in the microbiome of PAH-contaminated soil has been discussed as environmental hotspots for ARG spread. In addition to this, the possible links of molecular interactions between ARGs and PAHs, and their effect on environmental health has been explored.

     

某矿区土壤和地下水重金属污染调查与评价

为了解湘南某矿区土壤和地下水重金属污染状况,对该矿区东河流域附近重金属污染源进行了调查,同时,对地下水和土壤样品进行了采样分析,结果表明：（1）该矿区东河流域附近的主要污染源有18个,其中有色金属选厂、尾矿库、采矿场和冶炼厂是排放重金属较多的污染源;（2）20个采样点中土壤重金属Pb、Cd、Zn、As和Hg大部分超过国家土壤环境质量标准（GB15618-1995）,综合污染指数P综〉1,该矿区主要的重金属污染元素为Cd、As和Hg,且土壤中Cd、Zn和As的含量两两之间存在着极显著的正线性相关关系;（3）重金属元素在土壤中的纵向迁移不明显,该矿区附近20个采样点的地下水并未受到污染,综合污染指数P综〈1。20个采样点地下水Pb、Cd、Zn、As、Hg浓度均能达到地下水质量标准（GB／T14848．9）中的Ⅲ类标准。     

Quantitative–spatial assessment of soil contamination in S. Francisco de Assis due to mining activity of the Panasqueira mine (Portugal)

Through the years, mining and beneficiation processes produces large amounts of As-rich mine wastes laid up in huge tailings and open-air impoundments (Barroca Grande and Rio tailings) that are the main source of pollution in the surrounding area once they are exposed to the weathering conditions leading to the formation of AMD and consequently to the contamination of the surrounding environments, in particularly soils. In order to investigate the environmental contamination impact on S. Francisco de Assis (village located between the two major impoundments and tailings) agricultural soils, a geochemical survey was undertaken to assess toxic metals associations, related levels and their spatial distribution, and to identify the possible contamination sources. According to the calculated contamination factor, As and Zn have a very high contamination factor giving rise to 65.4 % of samples with a moderate to high pollution degree; 34.6 % have been classified as nil to very low pollution degree. The contamination factor spatial distribution put in evidence the fact that As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn soils contents, downstream Barroca Grande tailing, are increased when compared with the local Bk soils. The mechanical dispersion, due to erosion, is the main contamination source. The chemical extraction demonstrates that the trace metals distribution and accumulation in S. Francisco de Assis soils is related to sulfides, but also to amorphous or poorly crystalline iron oxide phases. The partitioning study allowed understanding the local chemical elements mobility and precipitation processes, giving rise to the contamination dispersion model of the study area. The wind and hydrological factors are responsible for the chemical elements transport mechanisms, the water being the main transporter medium and soils as one of the possible retention media.     

Ecological restoration of mine degraded soils,with emphasis on metal contaminated soils

This paper reviews the ecological aspects of mined soil restoration, with special emphasis on maintaining a long-term sustainable vegetation on toxic metal mine sites. The metal mined soils are man-made habitats which are very unstable and will become sources of air and water pollution. Establishment of a vegetation cover is essential to stabilize the bare area and to minimize the pollution problem. In addition to remediate the adverse physical and chemical properties of the sites, the choice of appropriate vegetation will be important. Phytostabilization and phytoextraction are two common phytoremediation techniques in treating metal-contaminated soils, for stabilizing toxic mine spoils, and the removal of toxic metals from the spoils respectively. Soil amendments should be added to aid stabilizing mine spoils, and to enhance metal uptake accordingly.     

砷矿尾砂污染及其治理研究

调查了广东省连南瑶族自治县寨岗铁屎坪土法炼砷废墟及其周边砷污染状况.发现渗流水含砷高达43.72 mg/L,渗流水随雨水沿山坡、溪流流入下游,对周边的水体、土壤、农作物等造成严重污染.同时发现全缘凤尾蕨、龙船蕨、野苎麻、白芒草和接骨草是耐砷植物.模拟试验证实在炼砷废墟和高砷尾砂上种植这些植物可减少砷的迁移,且不致引起二次污染.1998年对铁屎坪土法炼砷废墟进行治理,经一年多跟踪观察,周边水体中砷含量从原来的约0.048 mg/L下降到0.001 06 mg/L.结果表明用植被治理尾砂的砷污染是一种价廉、有效的方法.     

A review of studies performed to assess metal uptake by earthworms

Earthworms perform a number of essential functions in soil; the impacts of metals on earthworms are often investigated. In this review we consider the range of earthworm species, types of soil and forms of metal for which metal uptake and accumulation have been studied, the design of these experiments and the quantitative relationships that have been derived to predict earthworm metal body burden. We conclude that there is a need for more studies on earthworm species other than Eisenia fetida in order to apply the large existing database on this earthworm to other, soil dwelling species. To aid comparisons between studies agreement is needed on standard protocols that define exposure and depuration periods and the parameters, such as soil solution composition, soil chemical and physical properties to be measured. It is recommended that more field or terrestrial model ecosystem studies using real contaminated soil rather than metal-amended artificial soils are performed.     

Bioaccumulation and the soil factors affecting the uptake of arsenic in earthworm, Eisenia fetida

To better understand arsenic (As) bioaccumulation, a soil invertebrate species was exposed to 17 field soils contaminated with arsenic due to mining activity. Earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were kept in the soils for 70 days under laboratory conditions, as body burden increased and failed to reach equilibrium in all soils. After 70 days of exposure, XANES spectra determined that As was biotransformed to a highly reduced form. Uptake kinetics for As was calculated using one compartment model. Stepwise multiple regression suggested that sorbed As in soils are bioaccessible, and uptake is governed by soil properties (iron oxide, sulfate, and dissolved organic carbon) that control As mobility in soils. As in soil solution are highly related to uptake rate except four soils which had relatively high chloride or phosphate. The results imply that uptake of As is through As interaction with soil characteristics as well as direct from the soil solution. Internal validation showed that empirically derived regression equations can be used for predicting As uptake as a function of soil properties within the range of soil properties in the data set.